Elastic break brake apparatus and method for minimizing broken elastic rethreading

ABSTRACT

A series of elastic break brakes are provided throughout a travel path of elastics in a machine operation. Elastic strands thread through each individual brake mechanism, and if an elastic strand breaks downstream, a natural snap back of the elastic, which ordinarily travels through the system under tension, drives an immediately upstream cam mechanism back, and holds the elastic thread in place at the elastic break brake immediately upstream of the break as to minimize rethreading required downstream of the elastic break brake.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of pending provisional applicationSer. Nos. 61/637,365 filed 24 Apr. 2012 and 61/645,867 filed 11 May2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to disposable garments, and more particularly, apants-type diaper, which is equipped with elastic strips effectivelyencircling the leg-holes without traversing the crotch region and to amethod for producing such diapers.

Disposable diapers of the children's training pant type, or of the adultincontinence type, are typically equipped with elastic strands, whichencircle the leg-holes. These strands of elastic are typically capturedwith adhesive between two layers of non-woven materials. Various methodsare used to position these elastic strands so that they produce thedesired encircling effect.

In one method of manufacture, the diapers are produced in an orientationwhereby product flow is in the form of a single continuous web and thedirection of travel is at a right angle with respect to what would bedescribed as the crotch line of the diaper, i.e., the normal directionof product flow is parallel to the waist as opposed to parallel to thecrotch.

One method of creating the desired effect of encircling the leg holes ofthe pant with elastics is to interleave two swaths of elastic strands,each curving across the face of the traveling web, encircling about onehalf of the leg-hole areas and crossing the path of the other. As apair, they create a boundary around each leg-hole cutout, whichresembles a circle or ellipse. In practice, however, the lateralexcursions of the elastic lay-down device are speed-limited. As thetraveling web is moving at some speed in one direction, and as theelastic lay-down device has speed and acceleration limits in thecross-direction, there is a limit to the steepness of the oblique anglewhich it is possible to form between the two. The result of thislimitation is usually seen in the form of apparent incompleteness in theformation of the leg-hole-encircling pattern, particularly at the crotchline, where the two swaths cross each other.

From the point on the web at which one leg-hole pattern has beencompleted to the point at which the next can be begun, the elasticlaydown device must reposition itself to a favorable starting point.This period of repositioning occurs as the crotch region passes thelaydown device. As a result, the elastic strands must also cross thisregion of the product, at which they may or may not be attached by meansof adhesives to the carrier webs. Various means are used to control orlimit the positional relationships of the elastic strands in thisregion. The two sets of strands may cross over each other, creating an“X” pattern, or, they may loop back over to their respective sides,creating an “0” at the center of the crotch region. Alternatively, theymay be mechanically stopped and prevented from crossing each other,creating two sets of generally parallel lines at the crotch The lay-downpattern used at the crotch will determine the final appearance of theproduct in this area.

The shirring effect created by elastic strands when laminated with anyflexible fabric is well known. However, to have this shirring effectapplied to the crotch of a pant-type garment can be undesirable. Theelastics create a contractile force, which tends to distort the garmentat this location, thereby reducing the garment's aesthetic appeal,effectiveness and comfort. Thus various methods of reducing oreliminating the effects of the elastic tension normally occurring at thecrotch have been attempted. These methods include the elimination of theadhesive bond between the strands and the liner materials described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,745,922 as “unsecured space” as well as various methodsof cutting the strands to eliminate their effects.

As mentioned, one method of eliminating the undesired effects of theelastic strands which cross the crotch region is to sever them. Thismethod is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,657. Unfortunately, suchsevering usually requires the introduction of a transversely extendingcut, which can result in a loss of web tension in the severed part ofthe carrier web. This also creates an undesirable opening in the diaperbacksheet. A proposed solution for this problem is taught in U.S. Pat.No. 5,707,470, wherein an ultrasonic device is used to sever the elasticmembers, while the carrier webs which encapsulate the elastics are leftintact. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,396. Another problem associatedwith such severing lies in the tendency of the unsecured severed ends ofelastic to retract to some point beyond the limits of any adhesivepattern. Thus, the elastic strands are not controlled or anchored nearthe ends of the adhesion pattern and may snap back to further into theadhesive pattern. This results in an incomplete elastic pattern and poorproduct characteristics.

One method of compensating for the incompleteness of the encirclingpattern entails insertion of an additional set of elastic strips,running parallel to the crotch line and transverse to the web path. SeeU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,634,917 and 5,660,657. Typical products of this typeare provided with an outer laminate, which is formed of an inner linermaterial and an outer backsheet material, between which the leg-holeelastics are disposed.

Often, leg elastics or other types of continuous ribbons are applied torunning webs in a sinusoidal pattern by a roll-fed web process. Roll-fedweb processes typically use a constant infeed rate, which in the case ofa sinusoidal ribbon application, can result in necking, or undesirablenarrowing of the ribbon toward the inner and outer portions of the sinecurve in the cross-machine direction. This is because the infeed rate ofthe ribbon web does not match with the velocity of the substrate it isbeing laid upon in the machine direction. Instead, the ribbon materialis stretched somewhat at the extremities of the sine curve.

Roll-fed web processes typically use splicers and accumulators to assistin providing continuous webs during web processing operations. A firstweb is fed from a supply wheel (the expiring roll) into themanufacturing process. As the material from the expiring roll isdepleted, it is necessary to splice the leading edge of a second webfrom a standby roll to the first web on the expiring roll in a mannerthat will not cause interruption of the web supply to a web consuming orutilizing device.

In a splicing system, a web accumulation dancer system may be employed,in which an accumulator collects a substantial length of the first web.By using an accumulator, the material being fed into the process cancontinue, yet the trailing end of the material can be stopped or slowedfor a short time interval so that it can be spliced to leading edge ofthe new supply roll. The leading portion of the expiring roll remainssupplied continuously to the web-utilizing device. The accumulatorcontinues to feed the web utilization process while the expiring roll isstopped and the new web on a standby roll can be spliced to the end ofthe expiring roll.

In this manner, the device has a constant web supply being paid out fromthe accumulator, while the stopped web material in the accumulator canbe spliced to the standby roll. Examples of web accumulators includethat disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/110,616, which iscommonly owned by the assignee of the present application, andincorporated herein by reference.

Examples of curved elastic application are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,482,278, incorporated herein by reference. Other examples include U.S.Pat. Nos. 8,100,173 and 8,025,652.

During the use of elastics in manufacturing disposable products, acontinuous web of elastic is often threaded through numerous pieces ofmachinery upstream of a deposition point and adhesion of the elastic toanother running web, such as a nonwoven material. If for some reason anelastic strand breaks during machine operation, it is necessary tore-thread the elastic through all of the machinery both upstream anddownstream of the break.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided are methods and an apparatus for applying parallel flaredelastics to a substrate used to form a disposable product, and severingelastics contained in a laminate from a leg hole opening. Other novellaydown patterns of elastics are also disclosed.

A series of elastic break brakes are provided throughout a travel pathof elastics in a machine operation. Elastic strands thread through eachindividual brake mechanism, and if an elastic strand breaks downstream,a natural snap back of the elastic, which ordinarily travels through thesystem under tension, drives an immediately upstream cam mechanism back,and holds the elastic thread in place at the elastic break brakeimmediately upstream of the break as to minimize rethreading requireddownstream of the elastic break brake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 a-1 c, collectively, are perspective views showing a preferredembodiment of the invention in somewhat diagrammatic fashion; FIG. 2 isa diagrammatic view of the equipment and process shown in FIGS. 1 a-1 c;

FIGS. 3 a-3 b are, collectively, a perspective view showing in somewhatdiagrammatic fashion an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view further illustrating the process andequipment shown in FIGS. 3 a-3 b;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a ribbon application sequence of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of an exemplary pair of swinging arms for applyingelastic in a wave (or other) pattern on a running web;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of theinvention in somewhat diagrammatic fashion, used to create a pant-typediaper with waist band elastics and parallel flared elastics, with aportion of the curved elastics removed by a chip in a leg openingsection of the pant-type diaper;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a pant-type diaper with waist band elastics andcurved elastics, with a portion of the curved elastics removed by a chipin a leg opening section of the pant-type diaper prior to bonding afront portion of the diaper with a rear (or back) portion of the diaper;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of a pant-type diaper showing a sideseam bond between and front and a rear portion of the diaper, showingparallel flared elastics extending to a die cut leg cutout area, wherethe parallel flared elastics are removed;

FIGS. 10-12 are in-process top views of pant type diapers with varyingapplications of straight and curved elastics;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing in somewhat diagrammatic fashionan application of the elastic break brake invention, with a series ofelastic break brakes applied throughout the travel path of introducedelastic webs;

FIG. 14 is a side view of elastic break brakes of the present invention,carrying an elastic strand between a rotating cam and a base;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a series of elastic break brakes of thepresent invention, carrying an elastic strand;

FIG. 16 is a side view of elastic break brakes of the present invention,carrying an elastic strand between a rotating cam and a base, with abreak in the elastic strand upstream of a series of the elastic breakbrakes, the elastic break brake immediately upstream of the breakrotating counterclockwise to cinch the elastic strand between therotating cam and the base and holding the elastic strand such that onlyre-threading downstream of this elastic break brake is required;

FIG. 17 is a side view similar to FIG. 16, with a break in the elasticstrand between two elastic break brakes, the elastic break brakeimmediately upstream of the break rotating counterclockwise to cinch theelastic strand between the rotating cam and the base and holding theelastic strand such that only re-threading downstream of the firstelastic break brake is required;

FIGS. 18-23 are top views of pant type diapers with varying applicationsof straight and parallel flared elastics.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodimentsherein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied inother specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has beendescribed, the details may be changed without departing from theinvention, which is defined by the claims.

Referring first to FIG. 1 a, 1 b and 1 c, one of the preferredembodiments of the process of this invention and related apparatus areillustrated. The process utilizes two main carrier webs; a non-woven web11 which forms an inner liner web, while web 12 forms an outwardlyfacing layer in the finished diaper. In this embodiment, non-woven web11 is slit, at slitter station 15, by rotary knives 14 along threelines. One of these, line 16, is on approximately the centerline of web11 and two additional lines 17 and 18 are parallel to and spaced a shortdistance from centerline 16. The effect is twofold, first, to separateweb 11 into two halves, as also seen in FIG. 5 b. One half, 19, willbecome the inside of the front of the diaper 50 and the second half, 20,will become the inside of the back of that garment. Second, twoseparate, relatively narrow strips 22 and 24 are formed which aresubsequently used to cover and entrap portions of the leg-hole elastics25 and 26. Strips 22 and 24 are separated physically by an angularlydisposed spreader roll 23 and aligned laterally with their downstreamtarget positions on the inner edges of webs 19 and 20.

This invention relates particularly to a variation in the way that legelastics 25 and 26 (which can be ribbons) are applied. In particular,the infeed rate of leg elastics or ribbons 25 and 26 is sped up at theouter extremities of the sine curve in the machine direction so that thevertical component of the velocity of the ribbon placement is at or nearthe velocity of the substrate web 20 to which the ribbon is applied.This results in little to no tension upon the elastics or ribbons 25 and26.

Adhesive patterns are applied to the liner webs 20 in target areas forthe leg-hole elastics 26. A spray gun assembly 29 of a type known in theart is preferably used to apply the adhesive patterns. Two sets ofleg-hole, elastic strands 26 are introduced through laydown guides 30,which reciprocate from side to side past each other. The strands 26 areglued to the web sections 20, their laydown patterns following aserpentine or sinusoidal path. Laydown guides 30 then apply the strands26, which form leg-hole elastics as the web sections 20 are carriedalong the face of a drum or roll 32.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastics 25 and26 are laid down in a smooth repetitive oscillation, with a centerlinealong an line in the machine, and an amplitude in the cross-machinedirection. In a preferred embodiment, the infeed velocity of theelastics is increased as the waveform reaches maximum amplitude, thendecreases again until the laydown passes the centerline, increasingagain until minimum amplitude. This variation decreases neckdown.

Elastic laydown guides 28 and 30 are provided with the ability to makeside-to side excursions, and the infeed of elastic 25 and 26 is providedwith the ability of variable infeed speed. Elastic laydown guides 28 and30 can be provided with the ability to make side-to side excursions byan arm that generally travels side to side e.g., by a swinging motion,or slides side to side. The side-to-side excursions of the leg-holeelastic laydown guides 28 and 30 result in generally arcuate segments ofelastic strands extending on each side of the web centerline. After thenonwoven strips 22 and 24 have been applied to cover and entrap thoseparts of the elastics 26 that run nearest to and parallel to the inneredges of the webs 20, a second pair of slitter knives 34 is used to trimaway a portion of the narrow nonwoven strips 22, 24, along with thatpart of the inner liner webs 20 to which they are laminated. This alsoremoves those portions of the elastic strands 26 which are containedwithin the laminations. The resultant trimmed scrap strips 36 areremoved from the process for disposal elsewhere.

The effect of the last-described step is to remove the cut away portionsof the elastic, eliminating its corresponding unwanted gathering effectfrom the crotch region of the garments 50. The remaining portions of thecurved elastic strands create a gathering effect around the leg openingsof the finished garments 50.

Subsequent to the combining and trimming of the inner webs 20 and thecover strips 22, 24, the combining drum 32 carries the webs to a nipwith a second combining drum 38, where the web sections 20, with theirrespective curved elastic patterns exposed, are transferred to andlaminated adhesively against the inside face of outer liner web 12. Thisprocess entraps the curved elastic patterns 26 between the inner liners20 and outer web 12 thereby forming a composite web 39.

The composite web 39 is then provided with a pattern of adhesive inpreparation to receive an absorbent insert or patch 46. The patch 46 iscut from a provided patch web 40 by a cooperation of a cutter 41 and ananvil surface on a vacuum roll 42 and rotated into position for transferto the composite web 39 by a patch applicator 105. If the patch 46 is tobe applied to the web 39, a determination explained more fully below,the patch applicator 105 forces the web 39 against the patch 46, therebyadhering the patch 46 to the web 39.

Leg-hole materials 48, if not previously removed, are cut at a cuttingstation 47, thereby removing the material 48 contained within anapproximate perimeter defined by the curved pattern of the elastics 26and defining one half of a leg opening (with the other half of a legopening provided in an adjacent leg-hole opening). The running compositechassis web 39 is folded, before or after cutting out of the leg holes,longitudinally along its centerline, thereby generally aligning itsfront waist edge with its back waist edge. The regions 53 which are tobecome the side seams 54 of the garments 50 are then welded by a sealingdevice 49 either ultrasonically or by heat. Note that the leg holes arepreferably cut out before this point, leaving only a narrow zone forwelding. The weld pattern is preferably wide enough to extend into boththe left side seam of one garment and the right side seam of theadjacent garment. The garments 50 are then separated by passing througha cut-off knife assembly 55, which severs the web along the transverseaxis of the side seam weld 53.

As described above, the laydown guides 30 used to apply the leg-holeelastics 26 to the liner web 20 oscillate from side to side to apply theleg-hole elastic 26 to the liner web 20 in a generally wave-likepattern. It should be understood that due to the oscillating motion ofthe laydown guides 28 and 30, it is desirable to change the rate atwhich the leg-hole elastic 25 and 26 is introduced to the liner web 20.As shown in FIG. 5, the velocity of the leg-hole elastic 26 has both avertical (machine direction) component Vy and a horizontal(cross-machine direction) component Vx. It is contemplated that thevertical component of the velocity of the leg-hole elastic 25 and 26 isequal to, and in the same direction as, the velocity of the liner web 20on which the leg-hole elastic 26 is being applied.

The incoming ribbon has variable speed, with the incoming ribbonincreasing in velocity as the incoming ribbon is deposited in the curvedpattern from the centerline to the maximum amplitude (its greatestdistance from the centerline in the cross-machine direction towards afirst boundary of the web), decreasing as the incoming ribbon isdeposited in the curved pattern from the maximum amplitude to thecenterline, and increasing as the incoming ribbon is deposited in thecurved pattern from the centerline to the minimum amplitude (itsgreatest distance from the centerline in the cross-machine directiontowards the other boundary of the web).

In a preferred elastic laydown pattern such as shown in FIG. 5, twolanes of elastic 25 and 26 are laid down in separate lanes, with bothminimum amplitudes in the same position in the machine direction.

At least one web accumulator (not shown) can be located upstream of, orbefore, the leg-hole elastic guides 30, as shown in FIG. 1 a. Theaccumulator can take any form, such as a servo driven roller that speedsup and slows down, an alternate roller configuration, a rocking rollerconfiguration, or any different means of accumulating the web, such as aminiature accumulator, or a device similar to a diaper cross-folder, ora tucker blade.

In this manner, the rate at which the leg-hole elastics 26 are being fedto the liner web 20 can be altered while the rate at which the leg-holeelastics 26 is fed to a rate adjustment apparatus 314 (not shown)remains the same.

It is further contemplated that the system may include a tension controldevice (not shown). The tension control device is preferably sized andconfigured to eliminate tension in the leg-hole elastic 26 prior toapplying the leg-hole elastic 26 to the liner web 20. In this mannerwhen the leg-hole elastic 26 is applied to the liner web 20, theleg-hole elastic will not become misshapen as it would if the leg-holeelastic 26 were under tension. The tension control device can takes theform of a web accumulator, or any form known in the art capable ofperforming such a function.

In this manner, the leg-hole elastic 26 is accumulated in the tensioncontrol device when the rate of application of the leg-hole elastics 26to the liner web 20 is slowed as described above. It is contemplatedthat the above-described system will provide active tension control andfeed approach to change the feed of the leg-hole elastics 26 to theliner web 20 so that the leg-hole elastic is not under tension when itis applied to the liner web 20. This will result in leg-hole elastics 26that are applied to the liner web 20 in an undistorted manner.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a top view of an exemplary pair of swingingarms 90 for applying elastics 25 and 26 is shown. The swinging arms canbe programmed or operated to apply the elastics in a wave pattern (see,e.g., FIG. 5) on a running web such as shown in FIG. 1.

It should be understood that the above-described arrangement may be usedto apply any type of material to a moving web in a curved pattern. Inthe illustrated example, the material is leg-hole elastics 26 taking theform of elastic strands; however it is contemplated that the materialcould take the form of elastic tape. It is further contemplated that thematerial could take the form of non-elastic strands or non-elastic tape.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a perspective view showing a preferredembodiment of an alternative embodiment of the present invention isshown. This embodiment is used to create a pant-type diaper with waistband elastics and curved elastics, with a portion of the curved elasticsremoved by a chip in a leg opening section of the pant-type diaper.

In this embodiment, two or more series of leg band elastics 210 and 212are laid down. Preferably waistband elastics 210 run parallel to oneanother, while another sequence of leg and waist elastics 212 are laiddown in a curved pattern inboard of the waistband elastics 210.Preferably, the leg and waist elastics 212 are applied in a curvedfashion. At what will become the leg hole opening of the diaper, the legand waist elastics 212 are generally parallel, and each of theindependent the leg and waist elastics 212 are then curved towardsabsorbent insert or patch 46, and increasingly separated in distancefrom one another the closer the leg and waist elastics 212 get to theabsorbent insert or patch 46.

As described above, sliding laydown guides 30 can be used to apply theleg and waist elastics 212 to the liner web 20, the laydown guidesoscillates from side to side to apply the leg and waist elastics 212 tothe liner web 20 in a generally wave-like pattern. Alternatively, aswing arm or series of swing arms 90 such as shown in FIG. 6 can be usedto apply the leg and waist elastics 212. The swing arms 28 and 30, orthe sliding layding guides 30 can be programmed to move in apredetermined fashion in order to lay down a straight line of elastics26 in a machine direction by remaining in a constant position, or canlay down a patterned shape of elastics 26 by moving from side to side asdesired.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, plan views of a pant-type diaper withparallel waist band elastics 210 and flared leg and waist elastics 212is shown. Similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 1 b, leg-holematerials 48, if not previously removed, are cut at a cutting station 47(FIG. 7), thereby removing the material 48 and forming a leg openingcontour 216 on both the left and the right sides of the product.Referring particularly to FIG. 9, it can be seen that the leg and waistelastics 212 do not occupy what later will become seam 53, but insteadpass through leg opening contours 216 for removal at cutting station 47(FIG. 7).

Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, these figures show in-process top views ofpant type diapers with varying applications of straight and curvedelastics.

As shown in FIG. 10, in one embodiment, parallel waist elastics 210 areapplied to both the front and the back, and a series of parallel leg andwaist elastics 212 are provided on a front of the product, while curvedleg and waist elastics 212 are provided on the rear of the product. Thecurved leg and waist elastics 212 of the rear of the product would crossa secondary leg contour 216 of the product, and those elastics would notbe contained within the side seam bond 53.

Referring to FIG. 11, parallel waist elastics 210 are applied to boththe front and the back, and a series of parallel leg and waist elastics212 are provided on a front of the product, while curved leg and waistelastics 212 are provided on the rear of the product. The curved leg andwaist elastics 212 of the rear of the product would cross a secondaryleg contour 216 of the product, and those elastics would not becontained within the side seam bond 53. Similarly, a portion of theparallel leg and waist elastics 212 of the front of the product wouldenter a tertiary leg contour 216, and some of those parallel leg andwaist elastics 212 would be severed during chip removal.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, curved leg and waist elastics 220are provided on the front of the product, and curved leg and waistelastics 212 which do not enter the side seams 53 are provided on therear of the product. These and other elastic lay down variations,including following the leg cut in a tight group, a combination of aflared feature on the back (or front); and the opposing sides withelastics are tightly grouped together following a leg cut die and goingthrough the leg cut die; or no elastics in those portions, are allcontemplated.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-16 generally, a series of elastic break brakes300 are provided throughout a travel path of elastics (such as elastic26) in a machine operation. Elastic strands thread through eachindividual brake mechanism 300, and if an elastic strand breaksdownstream, a natural snap back of the elastic, which ordinarily travelsthrough the system under tension, drives an immediately upstream cammechanism back, and holds the elastic thread in place at the elasticbreak brake 300 immediately upstream of the break as to minimizerethreading required downstream of the elastic break brake.

Referring generally to FIGS. 13-17, an elastic break brake 300 to allowdownstream travel of an elastic thread during machine operation and tostop unwanted elastic travel is disclosed. A rotating weight 310 iscarried by a pin 308 coupled to a base 306. A base elastic retainingsurface 312 spaced apart from said rotating cam weight 310. The rotatingcam weight 310 is rotatable by the force of elastic 26 traveling undertension between said rotating cam weight 310 and said base elasticretaining surface 312. The force of the traveling elastic 26 causes thecam weight 310 to be slightly rotated in a downstream machine directionallowing passage of said elastic 26 during machine operation. If a breakin the elastic 26 occurs, the elastic goes limp and therefore the forceof the traveling elastic 26 is no longer enough to hold the rotating camweight 310 in its slightly downstream rotated position. Instead, the camweight 310 rotates back upstream due to gravity and the absence of theforce from elastic 26 traveling under tension. The elastic 26 is thentrapped between the cam weight 310 and the elastic retaining surface312. This prevents unwanted elastic 26 travel, and makes the task ofre-threading the elastic 26 far shorter.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a perspective view of a representative elastictravel sequence is shown in somewhat diagrammatic fashion. A series ofelastic break brakes 300 are provided throughout the travel path ofintroduced elastic webs, and through each elastic break brake 300, thecontinuous web of elastic is threaded.

Referring to FIG. 14, a side view of elastic break brakes 300 of thepresent invention are shown carrying an elastic strand 26. A securingmechanism(s) 304 holds the elastic break brakes 300 in place. Theelastic is threaded between a rotating cam weight 310 and a base elasticretaining surface 312, which is very closely spaced apart from therotating cam weight 310. The rotating cam weight 310 is carried by pin308 coupled to a base back 306 generally depending from base 302.

During routine operation, the elastic 26 is traveling under tension, andat speed, sufficient to cause the cam weight 310 to be slightly rotatedin the downstream (machine) direction. Elastic 26 is allowed to andcapable of passing between the cam weight 310 and the base elasticretaining surface 312.

Referring now to FIG. 15, should a break in the elastic strand 26 occurupstream of a series of the elastic break brakes 300, the elastic breakbrake immediately upstream of the break in the elastic would, due togravity or otherwise (e.g., a spring mechanism, or motor controlled)rotate counterclockwise to cinch the elastic strand 26 between the camweight 310 and the base elastic retaining surface 312. By maintainingcontrol of the elastic 26 just upstream of the break point of theelastic 26, only re-threading downstream of the activated elastic breakbrake 300 is required.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 16, should a break in the elastic strand 26occur between two elastic break brakes 300, the elastic break brake 300immediately upstream of the break would due to gravity or otherwise(e.g., controlled) rotate counterclockwise to cinch the elastic strand26 between the cam weight 310 and the base elastic retaining surface312. By maintaining control of the elastic 26 just upstream of the breakpoint of the elastic 26, only re-threading downstream (in the machinedirection) of the activated elastic break brake 300 would be required.

Referring now to FIGS. 18-23, top views of pant type diapers withvarying applications of straight and curved elastics are shown.

Referring to FIG. 18, a series of flared elastics 400 are provided on afront and a back of a pant type diaper. On the back side, a singlestraight elastic strand 402 is provided, which is crossed over by theflaring elastics 400 of the back side of the pant.

In FIG. 19, multiple straight elastic strands 402 are provided on therear of the diaper, which are crossed over by the flaring elastics 400.

Referring to FIG. 20, another novel elastic laydown pattern is shown. Inthis embodiment, the distance between successive strands of the flaredelastics 400 on the rear side decreases towards the center of thediaper. A similar embodiment is shown in FIG. 21, but the flaringelastics 400 on the rear stop well short of a centerline CL of theproduct and are discontinued across the crotch portion of the product.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the elastics 400 do not fan, but insteadare parallel to one another generally along a leg cutout 216, and thenrun parallel to each other through the centerline CL of the product.This configuration is a flared configuration. In this arrangement, theelastics 400 run from near the disposable product side areas 410 (whenworn about the waist of a user) and run parallel from there, toward thecrotch portion of the diaper, and particularly toward the absorbent core46 crossing the centerline CL. In this sense, the elastics 400 generallyare running in a direction that is skew to the machine direction. Eachof the elastics 400 eventually turns to the centerline CL and next runsin the machine direction for a segment. At the centerline. Throughoutthe elastic laydown sequence, elastics 400 will be parallel, but spacedapart based on the time the elastic departs from the generally parallelto the leg cutout 216 direction, to the machine direction. At theparallel to the leg cutout 216 direction, the plurality of elasticstrands 400 are considered running in parallel skew to the machinedirection, that is neither in the machine direction or the cross machinedirection. Still running in parallel, the elastic 400 pattern ismirrored, and the elastics return the flare to a second side area 410 ofthe product, resulting in a parallel flared elastic pattern.Additionally, at least one of the front or back set of elastics 400could run entirely curved and parallel along their traverse of the frontor back panel.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changeswill readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed. While the preferred embodiment has been described, thedetails may be changed without departing from the invention, which isdefined by the claims.

We claim:
 1. An elastic break brake to allow downstream travel of anelastic thread during machine operation and to stop unwanted elastictravel, said elastic break brake comprising: a rotating weight carriedby a pin coupled to a base; a base elastic retaining surface spacedapart from said rotating cam weight; said rotating cam weight rotatableby elastic traveling under tension between said rotating cam weight andsaid base elastic retaining surface, said elastic causing said camweight to be slightly rotated in a downstream machine direction allowingpassage of said elastic during machine operation, and stopping saidelastic by rotating said cam weight slightly in an upstream machinedirection if said elastic is broken.